Atlan
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Atlan was the second leader of the Atlanteans and the first of his dynasty to settle on the Continent of Atlantis. He was the son of Atlas, the Atlanteans’ leader while they were an underground group in Lansinar, and he led his people into exile after his father’s imprisonment. His leadership was primarily defined by the March of the Atlanteans, a near-millennium-long migration across Europe and the Near East. Atlan is credited with keeping his people united during this arduous journey, though some princes grew impatient with his rule towards the end. He guided the Atlanteans to their continent and was involved in the division of land. Atlan disappeared during the Battle of the North Shore (514 BOC). After waiting ten years without proof of his death, his son Orin was declared his successor. Atlan was retroactively declared the first King of Atlantis and the First Sorcerer-King, known as the “Dead King” to distinguish him from his imprisoned father and his living son. The royal dynasty descended from him is called Domos Atlaneas.
The first Atlan was created by Peter David and Esteban Maroto for the Atlantis Chronicles and was retconned into being Aquaman’s biological father. That retcon has since been undone, but the name has been retained for the first King of Atlantis (e.g., the DC film Aquaman).
Biography
Atlan’s father, Atlas, was the leader of the Atlanteans whilst they were an underground sect in Lansinar. However, he was imprisoned for their crimes, and the leadership of his followers passed to Atlan upon their expulsion from the first city of the Old Ones. The majority of Atlan’s leadership was taken up with the near-mythological exile known as the March of the Atlanteans, an almost millennium-long wandering that saw the Atlanteans meander around Europe and the Near East before coming upon the continent of Atlantis.
It is a testament to Atlan that he held his people together as a single community during the March. However, Atlan is believed to have inherited his father’s gruff demeanour, and there are signs in the Proto-Chronicles that the princes (most of whom were his elders) began to lose patience with his rule towards the end. Only the intervention of Cleito finally reunited them.
Atlan guided the Atlanteans to the Continent of Atlantis and participated in the division that saw Atlantia province assigned to his family. It is even claimed that he chose the site for his new capital, the future Tritonis or Old City. However, he did not live to see the city founded. The “Battle of the North Shore” saw the Atlanteans encounter an ambush between a flight of Para-Demons and the Boreades of Lansinar. Despite being the people who had exiled them, the Atlanteans came to the Lansinarians’ aid. Altan disappeared during the fighting and was presumed dead.
Legacy
The Atlanteans waited ten years for proof of Atlan’s death. When it never came, his son, Orin, was declared his successor and took the honourific Atlaneas (son or descendant of Atlan) as the name of the Royal House (the Domos Atlaneas) descended from him. Orin Atlaneas was later declared King of the Atlanteans and retroactively proclaimed that his father and grandfather were also Kings. Atlan became known as the “Dead King” to differentiate him from Atlas (imprisoned in a timeless state).
Family
This tree shows the Atlaneas Dynasty, which is descended from Atlan. It includes only those immediate descendants who have Codex entries.
This tree shows only those immediate descendants that have Codex entries.
Timeline for Atlan
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Atlantean Chronicles Birth of Atlan
In this year Atlan, the eldest son of Atlas (521), is born.
— Atlantean Proto-Chronicles Fragment #84. Atlan is considered the father of the Atlantean royal house and was retroactively declared their first King, known as the Dead King, to separate him from the then-living King Orin Atlaneas, his son. -
Atlantean Chronicles Birth of Orin Atlaneas
In this year Sala of Lansinar, wife of Atlan (890), begat Orin Atlaneas of the Royal House; grandson of great Atlas (1411).
— Atlantean Proto-Chronicles Fragment #146 -
Atlantean Chronicles Calypso becomes High Priestess
In this year, in concealment and shadow, Calypso Aeaea (986), daughter of Atlas (1560), the first sorceress of the Craft, becomes High Priestess of the Dreamer and is favoured by the Old God. The faith of the Princes is strong. — Atlantean Proto-Chronicles Fragment #160. This and other fragments suggest that the faith of the Old God was an underground cult within Lansinar even in these early times. We know little of the Cult’s activities, but it seems that Calypso’s ascension was important in galvanising an underground “club” into a full religion. Her investment also saw Atlas properly recognised as the people’s secular leader for the first time and the ritual marriage of several the Princes and their descendants. Mention is also made of her mentor, a shadowy seerer called Kumarbi.
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Atlantean Chronicles March of Atlanteans
0 year of March of the Atlanteans: In this year, proud Atlas (1704) the First bears his imprisonment eternally. Atlan (1183), son of Atlas, becomes Prince; the Atlanteans are expelled from Lansinar. The Ten Princes, their kin, and faithful stride upon the March. Elasippus (742) the Pathfinder leads the way. — Atlantean Proto-Chronicles Fragment #178, It appears that the Boreades were merciful or otherwise cut a deal with Atlas to spare his followers in exchange for their exile and his own imprisonment.
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Atlantean Chronicles Birth of Arbounia
185 year of March of the Atlanteans::
Arbounia, daughter of Atlan, is born.
— Atlantean Proto-Chronicles. Arbounia was Orin’s sister and the first of Atlas’s line to be born outside of Lansinar. It is from her that the Domos Arbouneas, the junior house of the Atlaneas Dynasty, descends. -
Atlantean Chronicles End of the March of the Atlanteans
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Atlantean Chronicles Battle of the North Shore
The Battle of the North Shore was fought this year. Atlan (2526) and his host rally to the aid of the Duke of Lansinar whom Sky-Demons had ambushed. The bold are victorious, but Atlan falls, his body lost.
— Atlantean Proto-Chronicles. -
Atlantean Chronicles Accession of Orin Atlaneas
Atlan is declared the Dead Prince, Orin the First (1646) is proclaimed Prince of Princes.
— Atlantean Proto-Chronicles. With no physical body to bury or proof of this death, the Atlanteans wait ten years before declaring Atlan dead. -
Atlantean Chronicles Aurakles in Atlantis
| Atlan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| High King of Atlantis | |
| Reign | 1857 BOC – 504 BOC (Retroactive declaration as the First Sorcerer-King, known as the Dead King.) |
| Predecessor | Atlas. |
| Successor | Orin Atlaneas |
| Biographical Data | |
| Species/Race | Old Ones |
| Gender | Male |
| Born | 3040 BOC Lansinar |
| Died | 514 BOC (aged 2526) Atlantis’ North Shore (Killed by Para-Demons) |
| Family | |
| Spouse | Sala (m. 2001 BOC) |
| Children | Orin Atlaneas Arbounia |
| Father | Atlas |
| Affiliation | |
| Religion | The Old Faith |
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